The Healing Power of Laughter: Understanding the Benefits of Laughter Therapy for Cardiovascular Health

2023-09-04 23:41:01

Laughter has proven to be more than the best medicine; it is a therapeutic resource that can make a difference in cardiovascular health.

During the recent annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Amsterdam, researchers presented findings supporting the effectiveness of laughter therapy for people with cardiovascular disease.

This discovery sheds light on the pioneering vision of Hunter Doherty ‘Patch’ Adams, the clown doctor known as ‘the father of laughter therapy’, and how his innovative approach is being validated by science.

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The Laughter Therapy Legacy of ‘Patch’ Adams

In 1972, ‘Patch’ Adams founded the Gesundheit! Institute, a revolutionary community medical center that made laughter and humor essential components of healing. His unconventional vision of medicine, centered on joy and creativity, stood out at a time when the health care system in the United States was primarily focused on treating cardiovascular disease.

A recent study titled: “Cardiac rehabilitation with laughter therapy in patients with stable coronary artery disease: a randomized clinical trial” and presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Amsterdam revealed that laughter causes the heart tissue to expand and that increases the flow of oxygen in the body.

Professor Marco Saffi, a researcher and member of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, in Brazil, is the main author of the study and reported that: “he found that laughter therapy increased the functional capacity of the cardiovascular system.”

In the investigation that was carried out, 26 64-year-old adults were selected, all diagnosed with diseases related to coronary artery disease, caused by the accumulation of plaque on the walls that supply blood to the heart.

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For three months, half were asked to watch two different hour-long comedy shows each week, while the other half watched two different serious documentaries, on topics like politics or the Amazon jungle.

At the end of the study time, it was evidenced that the group of people who watched comedy improved their cardiovascular disease condition by 10%, in addition, the second group also improved statistically but not so significantly.

Other benefits of laughter therapy

The Mayo Clinic mentions other benefits that laughter therapy has on the health of the human body, since this type of therapy also helps to improve problems such as anxiety, depression, among others.

A good laugh has excellent short-term effects. When you start laughing, it not only eases your mental load, but actually causes physical changes in your body. These are some effects of laughter:

– Stimulates many organs: Laughter improves air intake with high oxygen content, stimulates the heart, lungs and muscles, and increases endorphins released in the brain.

– Activates and reduces the stress response: Unbridled laughter raises the spirits and then reduces your stress response, and can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure.

– Calms tension: Laughter can also stimulate circulation and help relax muscles, which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

– Improves the immune system: Negative thoughts manifest in chemical reactions that can affect the body by putting more stress on your system and lowering your immunity. Instead, positive thoughts can release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses.

– Relieves pain: Laughter can relieve pain by triggering the body to produce its own natural pain relievers.

– Increases personal satisfaction: laughter can also facilitate coping with difficult situations. Plus, it helps you connect with other people.

– Improves mood: many people suffer from depression, sometimes due to chronic diseases. Laughter can help you reduce stress, depression, and anxiety, and it can make you feel happier. It can also improve your self-esteem.